Targeted advertising system and method for drivers

ABSTRACT

An advertising system and its method of use are disclosed. The advertising system includes at least one sensor coupled to a fixed location, where the at least one sensor is configured to generate an impression based on at least one characteristic of a proximate automobile, at least one processor configured to receive the impression, at least one server, having an advertising database and a user database, and at least one delivery mechanism. Preferably, the advertising database contains information relating to at least one advertisement and the user database is configured to check if the at least one characteristic matches an existing entry for a user, and either associate that impression with a user or create a new entry for the impression.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This non-provisional application is a continuation of U.S.non-provisional application Ser. No. 15/809,307, filed on Nov. 10, 2017,which claims priority to U.S. provisional application 62/420,799 filedon Nov. 11, 2016, the contents of both of which are fully incorporatedby reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The field of the present invention and its embodiments relates to atargeted advertising system and method for drivers. In particular, thepresent invention and its embodiments relate to a system for identifyingan automobile, determining information about the driver of thatautomobile, and delivering targeted advertising to that driver.

BACKGROUND OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Targeted advertising is a type of advertising that allows advertisers tochoose specific targets for their advertisements. Instead of advertisinggenerally to the public, advertisers will only display theiradvertisements to people who are likely to purchase what is beingadvertised. For example, suppose there is an advertiser who isattempting to sell a product that has a small market, such as ceilingtiles. Ordinary consumers rarely have a need to purchase this product,so purchasing advertising space on network TV may not be an efficientway to reach potential customers. However, due to improvements inadvertising technology, targeted advertising has become a part ofevery-day life. While targeted advertising on the internet was once avaluable tool, the market has become crowded and now the majority ofadvertisers engage in this type of advertising. As such, there is a needfor advertisers to utilize the methods of targeted advertising innon-computer settings.

Review of Related Technology

U.S. Pat. No. 8,719,094 pertains to computer-implemented methods fornotifying a user of a promotional offer based on a travel route. In oneaspect, a method includes determining a travel route, from an originlocation to a destination location, of a user. The method furtherincludes calculating a distance from at least one point on the travelroute one or more retail locations offering a promotional offer. Themethod further includes selecting, based on the calculated distance, atleast one of the one or more retail locations offering the promotionaloffer. The method further includes determining a time to notify the userof the promotional offer offered by the selected retail location(s). Themethod further includes providing for notifying the user at thedetermined time, of the promotional offer offered by the selected retaillocation(s).

U.S. Pat. No. 8,825,527 pertains to a software based system and methodof displaying location based information from an information site on anetwork by determining location data of a user of the location basedinformation on the network. The location based information is generatedbased on the determined location data of the user; and generatedlocation based information is provided to the user over the network.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,984,147 pertains to methods, systems, and apparatuses,including computer program products, which may be used for contentdelivery. In particular implementations, methods, systems, andapparatuses may include the ability to identify that a content itemrequest for a user device has been received, determine a position andvelocity of the user device, select a content item to provide to theuser device based at least on its position and velocity, and sending thecontent item to the user device.

U.S. Pat. No. 9,058,619 pertains to a system for measurement, planning,monitoring and execution of advertisements on out-of-home media. Theinvention provides a method by which greater eyeball content is ensuredto out-of-home media assets thereby benefiting advertisers and ensuringefficient advertising budget spend.

United States Patent Publication No.: 2009/0234726 pertains to systemsand methods for providing targeted advertising content to a user in anautomobile based on location are provided. More specifically, acomputing device within the automobile receives advertising content fromendpoints at various locations. The advertising content received may bean audio advertisement, a displayed advertisement presented on a displaydevice associated with the computer, etc. Further, the advertisingcontent may be from an entity associated with the endpoint, or may befrom an entity not associated with the endpoint, that has dealt directlywith the other entity in providing advertising content to the user.

United States Patent Publication No.: 2010/0179878 pertains to a systemthat may be used with a first database, a second database and a globalpositioning system, wherein the first database has advertising contentdata and advertising correlation data stored therein, wherein the seconddatabase has identifying data and correlation data stored therein andwherein the global positioning system is operable to provide a positionsignal corresponding to a position of the system and the velocity of thesystem. The system includes a sensor portion, a processor portion and adisplay portion. The sensor portion is operable to detect a parameterand to generate a detected signal based on the detected parameter. Theprocessor portion is operable to generate a correlation between thedetected signal and a portion of the identifying data, to obtain aportion of the advertising content data based on a portion of thecorrelation data and the advertising correlation data, and to generate adisplay signal based on the advertising content data and the positionsignal. The display portion is operable to display data based on thedisplay signal. United States Patent Publication No.: 2011/0078024pertains to a method for provisioning of advertisement to a user of avehicle is provided. The method comprises determining informationcomprising attributes associated with behavior of the user, analyzingthe information of the user and communicating at least one advertisementto the user wherein the at least one advertisement is based on theanalyzed information.

United States Patent Publication No.: 2014/0040016 pertains todynamically changing targeted advertising content which is dispatchedwirelessly in real time via a cellular network from a remote web portalto a plurality of vehicles, and ads are displayed on a digital displaymounted in a rear window of the vehicles. Vehicles communicatewirelessly to the web portal their geographic location, and cameras areused to record the effect of the ads on viewers in following vehicles.Ads are changed based upon criteria established by advertisers, changingvehicle geographic locations, and changing conditions such as areas,times of day, traffic on roads, and profiles of viewers.

United States Patent Publication No.: 2014/0095309 pertains to acomputer implemented method includes retrieving one or more dataelements relating to user shopping habits. The method also includesidentifying one or more merchants along a route corresponding to the oneor more data elements. The method further includes identifying at leastone advertisement for at least one of the one or more merchants. Also,the method includes presenting the advertisement to a vehicle occupant,as a vehicle moves within a perimeter of a merchant for which anadvertisement has been identified.

United States Patent Publication No.: 2014/0249913 pertains to aninformation management center transmits advertisement information to avehicle. The vehicle displays a predetermined advertisement on a bodydisplay part based on the transmitted advertisement information. After apredetermined time has passed since the display of the advertisement bythe body display part ended, the information management center acquiresthe results information about change of the sales results of anadvertised good which is an object of a predetermined advertisement fromthe store existing within a predetermined distance from a location ofthe body display part through a network. The information managementcenter returns remuneration to a user of the vehicle which permitted useof the body display part, when a sales volume, for example, isincreasing based on the acquired results information.

United States Patent Publication No.: 2014/0257949 pertains to planningthe presentation of advertisements to travelers, and includes using acomputer and software to receive data pertaining to a departure time, alocation of one or more travelers, a starting location of the traveler,and a vendor event, including a time and location for the event. Thereceived information is used to calculate available time between thedeparture time and the time of the event, and to calculate, for a givenmode of travel, a travel time from the starting location to the eventlocation and then to the departure location. The calculated travel timeplus a predetermined amount of time at the event location is comparedwith the calculated amount of time available, and if the calculatedamount of time available is at least equal, present an advertisementcorresponding to the vendor event to the traveler.

United States Patent Publication No.: 2014/0316900 pertains todynamically changing targeted advertising content which is dispatchedwirelessly in real time via a cellular network from a remote web portalto a plurality of vehicles, and ads are displayed on a digital displaymounted in a rear window of the vehicles. Vehicles communicatewirelessly to the web portal their geographic location, and cameras areused to record the effect of the ads on viewers in following vehicles.Ads are changed based upon criteria established by advertisers, changingvehicle geographic locations, and changing conditions such as areas,times of day, traffic on roads, and profiles of viewers.

United States Patent Publication No.: 2015/0095124 pertains to a systemand method for displaying marketing content at a predetermined locationand at a predetermined time is disclosed. The marketing content may bedisplayed on a mobile vehicle unit and also distributed to a mobiledevice within the proximity of the mobile vehicle unit. Variouscategories or criteria may be tagged to the marketing content and may bedisplayed or distributed only when the various criteria are satisfied.The displays may be mobile or non-mobile and the marketing content, orvariations of the marketing content, may be displayed on both the mobiledisplays or non-mobile displays, either at the same time or at differenttimes.

United States Patent Publication No.: 2015/0254720 pertains to a methodfor providing real-time location-based advertising within a transitsystem includes receiving origin information and destination informationrelated to a user's trip using the transit system. The method includesreceiving device location information from a mobile device and vehiclelocation information from a transit vehicle. The device locationinformation includes a location of the mobile device, and the vehiclelocation information includes a location of the transit vehicle. Themethod includes matching an advertisement profile with one or more ofthe device location information, the vehicle location information, theoriginal information, or the destination information to identify anadvertisement. The method includes causing a display of a remote deviceto reproduce an electronic version of the identified advertisement andproviding real-time arrival time information to the user's mobiledevice. The real-time arrival time information is based on the vehiclelocation and the destination information.

United States Patent Publication No.: 2015/0332330 pertains to a methodand system of providing advertising to a moving target vehicle. At leastone sensor device coupled to a moving advertising vehicle detecting aparameter associated with the moving target vehicle. The detectedparameter is received by a global positioning system (GPS) device.Advertising content data pertaining to a topic associated withidentification data is obtained. The topic was determined from matchingidentification data associated with the detected parameter toadvertising correlation data. The identification data was determinedfrom matching the detected parameter to data in a personal database.Vehicle data is determined by the at least one sensor device and/or theGPS device in the advertising vehicle. Display of the advertisingcontent data is initiated on a display device in the advertising vehicleto display the advertising content data to the target vehicle accordingto at least one display parameter that is based on the vehicle data.

International Patent Application No.: WO2012174519 pertains to a methodfor providing marketing materials from a marketing and informationservice platform to a vehicle telematics system comprises the steps ofreceiving route information at an integral telematics system of avehicle and delivering personalized messages to the telematics systemfor transmission to a user of the vehicle based on at least one oflocation and pre-defined preference information corresponding to theroute information. A method for providing marketing materials from amarketing and information services platform to a vehicle telematicssystem comprises the steps of sending route information from the vehicletelematics system integral with a vehicle to the marketing andinformation service platform remote from the vehicle and receivingpersonalized messages at the vehicle telematics system from themarketing and information service platform based on at least one oflocation and pre-defined preference information corresponding to theroute information.

International Patent Application No.: WO2014085186 pertains to a systemfor inserting stored advertising content into broadcast content beingplayed over an audio system. The system may have a smartphone inwireless communication with the audio system which runs an applicationrelating to a specific broadcast station that is broadcasting thebroadcast content. The audio system may have a processing system fordetecting breaks in program content that forms part of the broadcastcontent. The audio system may further be configured to obtainpredetermined advertisements and to play back the predeterminedadvertisements over the audio system during each break in the programcontent, in place of advertisements contained in the broadcast content.

International Patent Application No.: WO2015134921 pertains to a methodfor providing real-time location-based advertising within a transitsystem includes receiving origin information and destination informationrelated to a user's trip using the transit system. The method includesreceiving device location information from a mobile device and vehiclelocation information from a transit vehicle. The device locationinformation includes a location of the mobile device, and the vehiclelocation information includes a location of the transit vehicle. Themethod includes matching an advertisement profile with one or more ofthe device location information, the vehicle location information, theoriginal information, or the destination information to identify anadvertisement. The method includes causing a display of a remote deviceto reproduce an electronic version of the identified advertisement andproviding real-time arrival time information to the user's mobiledevice. The real-time arrival time information is based on the vehiclelocation and the destination information.

Various systems and methodologies are known in the art. However, theirstructure and means of operation are substantially different from thepresent disclosure. The other inventions fail to solve all the problemstaught by the present disclosure. The present invention and itsembodiments enable advertisers to reach higher-value targets while thosetargets are going about their day.

At least one embodiment of this invention is presented in the drawingsbelow and will be described in more detail herein.

SUMMARY OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The present invention discloses an advertising system, comprising: atleast one sensor, coupled to a fixed location, wherein the at least onesensor is configured to generate an impression based on at least onecharacteristic of a proximate automobile; at least one processorconfigured to receive the impression; at least one server, having anadvertising database and a user database, wherein the advertisingdatabase contains information relating to at least one advertisement,wherein the user database is configured to: check if the at least onecharacteristic matches an existing entry for a user, and eitherassociate that impression with a user or create a new entry for theimpression, and wherein the at least one server performs instructionsfor correlating the at least one characteristic with at least oneadvertisement; at least one delivery mechanism, configured to receiveand display the correlated advertisement. In another embodiment, thepresent invention further comprises a global positioning device. In apreferred embodiment, the at least one delivery mechanism is an externaldisplay in communicated with the at least one server. In anotherembodiment, the delivery mechanism is a printer configured to print thecorrelated advertisement on at least one label and in another thedelivery mechanism further comprises a mechanism for placing the atleast one label on at least one article. Preferably this deliverymechanism is a printer configured to print the correlated advertisementdirectly on at least one article. In other embodiments, the at least onecharacteristic is selected from the group consisting of: a licenseplate, the shape of a car, a front grill, a headlight configuration,wheelbase, sunroof, make, model, trim, and color. In other preferredembodiments the present invention further comprises a manual controlmechanism, comprising: a memory, configured to receive multiplecorrelated advertisements; a touch-enabled display, to show the multiplecorrelated advertisements; an interface, allowing a user to choose whichof the multiple correlated advertisements to display. In one highlypreferred embodiment, the at least one article is a coffee cup.

The present invention also discloses a method of deliveringadvertisements, comprising the steps of: providing, an advertisingsystem, comprising: at least one sensor, coupled to a fixed location,wherein the at least one sensor is configured to generate an impressionbased on at least one characteristic of a proximate automobile; at leastone processor configured to receive the impression, at least one server,having an advertising database and a user database, wherein theadvertising database contains information relating to at least oneadvertisement, wherein the user database is configured to: check if theat least one characteristic matches an existing entry for a user, andeither associate that impression with a user or create a new entry forthe impression, and wherein the at least one server performsinstructions for correlating the at least one characteristic with atleast one advertisement, at least one delivery mechanism, configured toreceive and display the correlated advertisement; sensing, by thesensing mechanism, at least one characteristic about the proximateautomobile; recording, by the at least one server, the at least onecharacteristic in the user database; calculating, by the at least oneserver, a probable destination for the proximate automobile;interfacing, by the at least one server, with a selected one of the atleast one delivery mechanisms, wherein the selected delivery mechanismis located near the probable destination; displaying, by the selecteddelivery mechanism, the correlated advertisement. Preferably, theprobable destination is determined from previously recorded informationin the user database. Also, the advertising system may further comprisea manual control mechanism, comprising: a memory, configured to receivemultiple correlated advertisements; a touch-enabled display, to show themultiple correlated advertisements; an interface, allowing a user tochoose which of the multiple correlated advertisements to display. Inthese embodiments, the method of the present invention also provides fora vendor to choose which correlated advertisements to display, via themanual control mechanism.

In general, the present invention succeeds in conferring the following,and others not mentioned, benefits and objectives.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a means foridentifying a user in an automobile or other similar vehicle anddisplaying targeted advertisements to the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a system for determining the identityof a user in an automobile, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a system for identifying a user and displaying anadvertisement to a user at a gas pump, according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a system for printing advertisements, accordingto an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of a system for placing advertisements onto objects,according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of a system for displaying an advertisement to auser on a manual control station, according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram of a system for displaying an advertisement to auser in an automobile at a business drive thru, according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram of a system for determining the identity of a userin an automobile at a car wash, according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of a system for displaying an advertisement to auser in an automobile at a toll booth, according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram of a system for projecting an advertisement to auser in a self-driving vehicle, according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram of a system for displaying a holographicadvertisement to a user in an automobile, according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram of a system for displaying an advertisement on anelectronic mirror within a vehicle compartment, according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram of a system for displaying an advertisement on anavigation/information display within a vehicle compartment, accordingto an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In accordance with the present invention, systems and methods areprovided for identifying a user in an automobile or other similarvehicle and displaying targeted advertisements to the user.

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be describedwith reference to the drawings. Identical elements in the variousfigures are identified with the same reference numerals.

The figures represent various embodiments of the present invention. Suchembodiments are provided by way of explanation of the present invention,which is not intended to be limited thereto. In fact, those of ordinaryskill in the art may appreciate upon reading the present specificationand viewing the present drawings that various modifications andvariations can be made thereto.

Systems, Devices and Operating Systems

Typically, a user or users, which may be people or groups of usersand/or other systems, may engage information technology systems (e.g.,computers) to facilitate operation of the system and informationprocessing. In turn, computers employ processors to process informationand such processors may be referred to as central processing units(CPU). One form of processor is referred to as a microprocessor. CPUsuse communicative circuits to pass binary encoded signals acting asinstructions to enable various operations. These instructions may beoperational and/or data instructions containing and/or referencing otherinstructions and data in various processor accessible and operable areasof memory (e.g., registers, cache memory, random access memory, etc.).Such communicative instructions may be stored and/or transmitted inbatches (e.g., batches of instructions) as programs and/or datacomponents to facilitate desired operations. These stored instructioncodes, e.g., programs, may engage the CPU circuit components and othermotherboard and/or system components to perform desired operations. Onetype of program is a computer operating system, which, may be executedby CPU on a computer; the operating system enables and facilitates usersto access and operate computer information technology and resources.Some resources that may be employed in information technology systemsinclude: input and output mechanisms through which data may pass intoand out of a computer; memory storage into which data may be saved; andprocessors by which information may be processed. These informationtechnology systems may be used to collect data for later retrieval,analysis, and manipulation, which may be facilitated through a databaseprogram. These information technology systems provide interfaces thatallow users to access and operate various system components.

In one embodiment, the present invention may be connected to and/orcommunicate with entities such as, but not limited to: one or more usersfrom user input devices; peripheral devices; an optional cryptographicprocessor device; and/or a communications network. For example, thepresent invention may be connected to and/or communicate with users,operating client device(s), including, but not limited to, personalcomputer(s), server(s) and/or various mobile device(s) including, butnot limited to, cellular telephone(s), smartphone(s) (e.g., iPhone®,Blackberry®, Android OS-based phones etc.), tablet computer(s) (e.g.,Apple iPad™, HP Slate™, Motorola Xoom™, etc.), eBook reader(s) (e.g.,Amazon Kindle™, Barnes and Noble's Nook™ eReader, etc.), laptopcomputer(s), notebook(s), netbook(s), gaming console(s) (e.g., XBOXLive™, Nintendo® DS, Sony PlayStation® Portable, etc.), portablescanner(s) and/or the like.

Networks are commonly thought to comprise the interconnection andinteroperation of clients, servers, and intermediary nodes in a graphtopology. It should be noted that the term “server” as used throughoutthis application refers generally to a computer, other device, program,or combination thereof that processes and responds to the requests ofremote users across a communications network. Servers serve theirinformation to requesting “clients.” The term “client” as used hereinrefers generally to a computer, program, other device, user and/orcombination thereof that is capable of processing and making requestsand obtaining and processing any responses from servers across acommunications network. A computer, other device, program, orcombination thereof that facilitates, processes information andrequests, and/or furthers the passage of information from a source userto a destination user is commonly referred to as a “node.” Networks aregenerally thought to facilitate the transfer of information from sourcepoints to destinations. A node specifically tasked with furthering thepassage of information from a source to a destination is commonly calleda “router.” There are many forms of networks such as Local Area Networks(LANs), Pico networks, Wide Area Networks (WANs), Wireless Networks(WLANs), etc. For example, the Internet is generally accepted as beingan interconnection of a multitude of networks whereby remote clients andservers may access and interoperate with one another.

The present invention may be based on computer systems that maycomprise, but are not limited to, components such as: a computersystemization connected to memory.

Computer Systemization

A computer systemization may comprise a clock, central processing unit(“CPU(s)” and/or “processor(s)” (these terms are used interchangeablethroughout the disclosure unless noted to the contrary)), a memory(e.g., a read only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), etc.),and/or an interface bus, and most frequently, although not necessarily,are all interconnected and/or communicating through a system bus on oneor more (mother)board(s) having conductive and/or otherwise transportivecircuit pathways through which instructions (e.g., binary encodedsignals) may travel to effect communications, operations, storage, etc.Optionally, the computer systemization may be connected to an internalpower source; e.g., optionally the power source may be internal.Optionally, a cryptographic processor and/or transceivers (e.g., ICs)may be connected to the system bus. In another embodiment, thecryptographic processor and/or transceivers may be connected as eitherinternal and/or external peripheral devices via the interface bus I/O.In turn, the transceivers may be connected to antenna(s), therebyeffectuating wireless transmission and reception of variouscommunication and/or sensor protocols; for example the antenna(s) mayconnect to: a Texas Instruments WiLink WL1283 transceiver chip (e.g.,providing 802.11n, Bluetooth 3.0, FM, global positioning system (GPS)(thereby allowing the controller of the present invention to determineits location)); Broadcom BCM4329FKUBG transceiver chip (e.g., providing802.11n, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, FM, etc.); a Broadcom BCM4750IUB8 receiverchip (e.g., GPS); an Infineon Technologies X-Gold 618-PMB9800 (e.g.,providing 2G/3G HSDPA/HSUPA communications); and/or the like. The systemclock typically has a crystal oscillator and generates a base signalthrough the computer systemization's circuit pathways. The clock istypically coupled to the system bus and various clock multipliers thatwill increase or decrease the base operating frequency for othercomponents interconnected in the computer systemization. The clock andvarious components in a computer systemization drive signals embodyinginformation throughout the system. Such transmission and reception ofinstructions embodying information throughout a computer systemizationmay be commonly referred to as communications. These communicativeinstructions may further be transmitted, received, and the cause ofreturn and/or reply communications beyond the instant computersystemization to: communications networks, input devices, other computersystemizations, peripheral devices, and/or the like. Of course, any ofthe above components may be connected directly to one another, connectedto the CPU, and/or organized in numerous variations employed asexemplified by various computer systems.

The CPU comprises at least one high-speed data processor adequate toexecute program components for executing user and/or system-generatedrequests. Often, the processors themselves will incorporate variousspecialized processing units, such as, but not limited to: integratedsystem (bus) controllers, memory management control units, floatingpoint units, and even specialized processing sub-units like graphicsprocessing units, digital signal processing units, and/or the like.Additionally, processors may include internal fast access addressablememory, and be capable of mapping and addressing memory beyond theprocessor itself; internal memory may include, but is not limited to:fast registers, various levels of cache memory (e.g., level 1, 2, 3,etc.), RAM, etc. The processor may access this memory through the use ofa memory address space that is accessible via instruction address, whichthe processor can construct and decode allowing it to access a circuitpath to a specific memory address space having a memory state. The CPUmay be a microprocessor such as: AMD's Athlon, Duron and/or Opteron;ARM's application, embedded and secure processors; IBM and/or Motorola'sDragonBall and PowerPC; IBM's and Sony's Cell processor; Intel'sCeleron, Core (2) Duo, Itanium, Pentium, Xeon, and/or XScale; and/or thelike processor(s). The CPU interacts with memory through instructionpassing through conductive and/or transportive conduits (e.g., (printed)electronic and/or optic circuits) to execute stored instructions (i.e.,program code) according to conventional data processing techniques. Suchinstruction passing facilitates communication within the presentinvention and beyond through various interfaces. Should processingrequirements dictate a greater amount speed and/or capacity, distributedprocessors (e.g., Distributed embodiments of the present invention),mainframe, multi-core, parallel, and/or super-computer architectures maysimilarly be employed. Alternatively, should deployment requirementsdictate greater portability, smaller Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs)may be employed.

Depending on the particular implementation, features of the presentinvention may be achieved by implementing a microcontroller such asCAST's R8051XC2 microcontroller; Intel's MCS 51 (i.e., 8051microcontroller); and/or the like. Also, to implement certain featuresof the various embodiments, some feature implementations may rely onembedded components, such as: Application-Specific Integrated Circuit(“ASIC”), Digital Signal Processing (“DSP”), Field Programmable GateArray (“FPGA”), and/or the like embedded technology. For example, any ofthe component collection (distributed or otherwise) and/or features ofthe present invention may be implemented via the microprocessor and/orvia embedded components; e.g., via ASIC, coprocessor, DSP, FPGA, and/orthe like. Alternately, some implementations of the present invention maybe implemented with embedded components that are configured and used toachieve a variety of features or signal processing.

Depending on the particular implementation, the embedded components mayinclude software solutions, hardware solutions, and/or some combinationof both hardware/software solutions. For example, features of thepresent invention discussed herein may be achieved through implementingFPGAs, which are a semiconductor devices containing programmable logiccomponents called “logic blocks”, and programmable interconnects, suchas the high performance FPGA Virtex series and/or the low cost Spartanseries manufactured by Xilinx. Logic blocks and interconnects can beprogrammed by the customer or designer, after the FPGA is manufactured,to implement any of the features of the present invention. A hierarchyof programmable interconnects allow logic blocks to be interconnected asneeded by the system designer/administrator of the present invention,somewhat like a one-chip programmable breadboard. An FPGA's logic blockscan be programmed to perform the function of basic logic gates such asAND, and XOR, or more complex combinational functions such as decodersor simple mathematical functions. In most FPGAs, the logic blocks alsoinclude memory elements, which may be simple flip-flops or more completeblocks of memory. In some circumstances, the present invention may bedeveloped on regular FPGAs and then migrated into a fixed version thatmore resembles ASIC implementations. Alternate or coordinatingimplementations may migrate features of the controller of the presentinvention to a final ASIC instead of or in addition to FPGAs. Dependingon the implementation all of the aforementioned embedded components andmicroprocessors may be considered the “CPU” and/or “processor” for thepresent invention.

Power Source

The power source may be of any standard form for powering smallelectronic circuit board devices such as the following power cells:alkaline, lithium hydride, lithium ion, lithium polymer, nickel cadmium,solar cells, and/or the like. Other types of AC or DC power sources maybe used as well. In the case of solar cells, in one embodiment, the caseprovides an aperture through which the solar cell may capture photonicenergy. The power cell is connected to at least one of theinterconnected subsequent components of the present invention therebyproviding an electric current to all subsequent components. In oneexample, the power source is connected to the system bus component. Inan alternative embodiment, an outside power source is provided through aconnection across the I/O interface. For example, a USB and/or IEEE 1394connection carries both data and power across the connection and istherefore a suitable source of power.

Interface Adapters

Interface bus(ses) may accept, connect, and/or communicate to a numberof interface adapters, conventionally although not necessarily in theform of adapter cards, such as but not limited to: input outputinterfaces (I/O), storage interfaces, network interfaces, and/or thelike. Optionally, cryptographic processor interfaces similarly may beconnected to the interface bus. The interface bus provides for thecommunications of interface adapters with one another as well as withother components of the computer systemization. Interface adapters areadapted for a compatible interface bus. Interface adaptersconventionally connect to the interface bus via a slot architecture.Conventional slot architectures may be employed, such as, but notlimited to: Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP), Card Bus, (Extended)Industry Standard Architecture ((E)ISA), Micro Channel Architecture(MCA), NuBus, Peripheral Component Interconnect (Extended) (PCI(X)), PCIExpress, Personal Computer Memory Card International Association(PCMCIA), and/or the like.

Storage interfaces may accept, communicate, and/or connect to a numberof storage devices such as, but not limited to: storage devices,removable disc devices, and/or the like. Storage interfaces may employconnection protocols such as, but not limited to: (Ultra) (Serial)Advanced Technology Attachment (Packet Interface) ((Ultra) (Serial)ATA(PI)), (Enhanced) Integrated Drive Electronics ((E)IDE), Institute ofElectrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1394, fiber channel, SmallComputer Systems Interface (SCSI), Universal Serial Bus (USB), and/orthe like.

Network interfaces may accept, communicate, and/or connect to acommunications network. Through a communications network, the controllerof the present invention is accessible through remote clients (e.g.,computers with web browsers) by users. Network interfaces may employconnection protocols such as, but not limited to: direct connect,Ethernet (thick, thin, twisted pair 10/100/1000 Base T, and/or thelike), Token Ring, wireless connection such as IEEE 802.11a-x, and/orthe like. Should processing requirements dictate a greater amount speedand/or capacity, distributed network controllers (e.g., Distributedembodiments of the present invention), architectures may similarly beemployed to pool, load balance, and/or otherwise increase thecommunicative bandwidth required by the controller of the presentinvention. A communications network may be any one and/or thecombination of the following: a direct interconnection; the Internet; aLocal Area Network (LAN); a Metropolitan Area Network (MAN); anOperating Missions as Nodes on the Internet (OMNI); a secured customconnection; a Wide Area Network (WAN); a wireless network (e.g.,employing protocols such as, but not limited to a Wireless ApplicationProtocol (WAP), I-mode, and/or the like); and/or the like. A networkinterface may be regarded as a specialized form of an input outputinterface. Further, multiple network interfaces may be used to engagewith various communications network types. For example, multiple networkinterfaces may be employed to allow for the communication overbroadcast, multicast, and/or unicast networks.

Input Output interfaces (I/O) may accept, communicate, and/or connect touser input devices, peripheral devices, cryptographic processor devices,and/or the like. I/O may employ connection protocols such as, but notlimited to: audio: analog, digital, monaural, RCA, stereo, and/or thelike; data: Apple Desktop Bus (ADB), IEEE 1394a-b, serial, universalserial bus (USB); infrared; joystick; keyboard; midi; optical; PC AT;PS/2; parallel; radio; video interface: Apple Desktop Connector (ADC),BNC, coaxial, component, composite, digital, Digital Visual Interface(DVI), high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI), RCA, RF antennae,S-Video, VGA, and/or the like; wireless transceivers: 802.11a/b/g/n/x;Bluetooth; cellular (e.g., code division multiple access (CDMA), highspeed packet access (HSPA(+)), high-speed downlink packet access(HSDPA), global system for mobile communications (GSM), long termevolution (LTE), WiMax, etc.); and/or the like. One typical outputdevice may include a video display, which typically comprises a CathodeRay Tube (CRT) or Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) based monitor with aninterface (e.g., DVI circuitry and cable) that accepts signals from avideo interface, may be used. The video interface composites informationgenerated by a computer systemization and generates video signals basedon the composited information in a video memory frame. Another outputdevice is a television set, which accepts signals from a videointerface. Typically, the video interface provides the composited videoinformation through a video connection interface that accepts a videodisplay interface (e.g., an RCA composite video connector accepting anRCA composite video cable; a DVI connector accepting a DVI displaycable, etc.).

User input devices often are a type of peripheral device (see below) andmay include: card readers, dongles, finger print readers, gloves,graphics tablets, joysticks, keyboards, microphones, mouse (mice),remote controls, retina readers, touch screens (e.g., capacitive,resistive, etc.), trackballs, trackpads, sensors (e.g., accelerometers,ambient light, GPS, gyroscopes, proximity, etc.), styluses, and/or thelike.

Peripheral devices may be external, internal and/or part of thecontroller of the present invention. Peripheral devices may alsoinclude, for example, an antenna, audio devices (e.g., line-in,line-out, microphone input, speakers, etc.), cameras (e.g., still,video, webcam, etc.), drive motors, lighting, video monitors and/or thelike.

Cryptographic units such as, but not limited to, microcontrollers,processors, interfaces, and/or devices may be attached, and/orcommunicate with the controller of the present invention. A MC68HC16microcontroller, manufactured by Motorola Inc., may be used for and/orwithin cryptographic units. The MC68HC16 microcontroller utilizes a16-bit multiply-and-accumulate instruction in the 16 MHz configurationand requires less than one second to perform a 512-bit RSA private keyoperation. Cryptographic units support the authentication ofcommunications from interacting agents, as well as allowing foranonymous transactions. Cryptographic units may also be configured aspart of CPU. Equivalent microcontrollers and/or processors may also beused. Other commercially available specialized cryptographic processorsinclude: the Broadcom's CryptoNetX and other Security Processors;nCipher's nShield, SafeNet's Luna PCI (e.g., 7100) series; SemaphoreCommunications' 40 MHz Roadrunner 184; Sun's Cryptographic Accelerators(e.g., Accelerator 6000 PCIe Board, Accelerator 500 Daughtercard); ViaNano Processor (e.g., L2100, L2200, U2400) line, which is capable ofperforming 500+MB/s of cryptographic instructions; VLSI Technology's 33MHz 6868; and/or the like.

Memory

Generally, any mechanization and/or embodiment allowing a processor toaffect the storage and/or retrieval of information is regarded asmemory. However, memory is a fungible technology and resource, thus, anynumber of memory embodiments may be employed in lieu of or in concertwith one another. It is to be understood that the controller of thepresent invention and/or a computer systemization may employ variousforms of memory. For example, a computer systemization may be configuredwherein the functionality of on-chip CPU memory (e.g., registers), RAM,ROM, and any other storage devices are provided by a paper punch tape orpaper punch card mechanism; of course such an embodiment would result inan extremely slow rate of operation. In a typical configuration, memorywill include ROM, RAM, and a storage device. A storage device may be anyconventional computer system storage. Storage devices may include adrum; a (fixed and/or removable) magnetic disk drive; a magneto-opticaldrive; an optical drive (i.e., Blueray, CD ROM/RAM/Recordable(R)/ReWritable (RW), DVD R/RW, HD DVD R/RW etc.); an array of devices(e.g., Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID)); solid state memorydevices (USB memory, solid state drives (SSD), etc.); otherprocessor-readable storage mediums; and/or other devices of the like.Thus, a computer systemization generally requires and makes use ofmemory.

Component Collection

The memory may contain a collection of program and/or databasecomponents and/or data such as, but not limited to: operating systemcomponent(s) (operating system); information server component(s)(information server); user interface component(s) (user interface); Webbrowser component(s) (Web browser); database(s); mail servercomponent(s); mail client component(s); cryptographic servercomponent(s) (cryptographic server) and/or the like (i.e., collectivelya component collection). These components may be stored and accessedfrom the storage devices and/or from storage devices accessible throughan interface bus. Although non-conventional program components such asthose in the component collection, typically, are stored in a localstorage device, they may also be loaded and/or stored in memory such as:peripheral devices, RAM, remote storage facilities through acommunications network, ROM, various forms of memory, and/or the like.

Operating System

The operating system component is an executable program componentfacilitating the operation of the controller of the present invention.Typically, the operating system facilitates access of I/O, networkinterfaces, peripheral devices, storage devices, and/or the like. Theoperating system may be a highly fault tolerant, scalable, and securesystem such as: Apple Macintosh OS X (Server); AT&T Plan 9; Be OS; Unixand Unix-like system distributions (such as AT&T's UNIX; BerkleySoftware Distribution (BSD) variations such as FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD,and/or the like; Linux distributions such as Red Hat, Ubuntu, and/or thelike); and/or the like operating systems. However, more limited and/orless secure operating systems also may be employed such as AppleMacintosh OS, IBM OS/2, Microsoft DOS, Microsoft Windows2000/2003/3.1/95/98/CE/Millennium/NT/Vista/XP (Server), Palm OS, and/orthe like. The operating system may be one specifically optimized to berun on a mobile computing device, such as iOS, Android, Windows Phone,Tizen, Symbian, and/or the like. An operating system may communicate toand/or with other components in a component collection, includingitself, and/or the like. Most frequently, the operating systemcommunicates with other program components, user interfaces, and/or thelike. For example, the operating system may contain, communicate,generate, obtain, and/or provide program component, system, user, and/ordata communications, requests, and/or responses. The operating system,once executed by the CPU, may enable the interaction with communicationsnetworks, data, I/O, peripheral devices, program components, memory,user input devices, and/or the like. The operating system may providecommunications protocols that allow the controller of the presentinvention to communicate with other entities through a communicationsnetwork. Various communication protocols may be used by the controllerof the present invention as a subcarrier transport mechanism forinteraction, such as, but not limited to: multicast, TCP/IP, UDP,unicast, and/or the like.

Information Server

An information server component is a stored program component that isexecuted by a CPU. The information server may be a conventional Internetinformation server such as, but not limited to Apache SoftwareFoundation's Apache, Microsoft's Internet Information Server, and/or thelike. The information server may allow for the execution of programcomponents through facilities such as Active Server Page (ASP), ActiveX,(ANSI) (Objective−) C (++), C# and/or .NET, Common Gateway Interface(CGI) scripts, dynamic (D) hypertext markup language (HTML), FLASH,Java, JavaScript, Practical Extraction Report Language (PERL), HypertextPre-Processor (PHP), pipes, Python, wireless application protocol (WAP),WebObjects, and/or the like. The information server may support securecommunications protocols such as, but not limited to, File TransferProtocol (FTP); HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP); Secure HypertextTransfer Protocol (HTTPS), Secure Socket Layer (SSL), messagingprotocols (e.g., America Online (AOL) Instant Messenger (AIM),Application Exchange (APEX), ICQ, Internet Relay Chat (IRC), MicrosoftNetwork (MSN) Messenger Service, Presence and Instant Messaging Protocol(PRIM), Internet Engineering Task Force's (IETF's) Session InitiationProtocol (SIP), SIP for Instant Messaging and Presence LeveragingExtensions (SIMPLE), open XML-based Extensible Messaging and PresenceProtocol (XMPP) (i.e., Jabber or Open Mobile Alliance's (OMA's) InstantMessaging and Presence Service (IMPS)), Yahoo! Instant MessengerService, and/or the like. The information server provides results in theform of Web pages to Web browsers, and allows for the manipulatedgeneration of the Web pages through interaction with other programcomponents. After a Domain Name System (DNS) resolution portion of anHTTP request is resolved to a particular information server, theinformation server resolves requests for information at specifiedlocations on the controller of the present invention based on theremainder of the HTTP request. For example, a request such ashttp://123.124.125.126/myInformation.html might have the IP portion ofthe request “123.124.125.126” resolved by a DNS server to an informationserver at that IP address; that information server might in turn furtherparse the http request for the “/myInformation.html” portion of therequest and resolve it to a location in memory containing theinformation “myInformation.html.” Additionally, other informationserving protocols may be employed across various ports, e.g., FTPcommunications across port, and/or the like. An information server maycommunicate to and/or with other components in a component collection,including itself, and/or facilities of the like. Most frequently, theinformation server communicates with the database of the presentinvention, operating systems, other program components, user interfaces,Web browsers, and/or the like.

Access to the database of the present invention may be achieved througha number of database bridge mechanisms such as through scriptinglanguages as enumerated below (e.g., CGI) and through inter-applicationcommunication channels as enumerated below (e.g., CORBA, WebObjects,etc.). Any data requests through a Web browser are parsed through thebridge mechanism into appropriate grammars as required by the presentinvention. In one embodiment, the information server would provide a Webform accessible by a Web browser. Entries made into supplied fields inthe Web form are tagged as having been entered into the particularfields, and parsed as such. The entered terms are then passed along withthe field tags, which act to instruct the parser to generate queriesdirected to appropriate tables and/or fields. In one embodiment, theparser may generate queries in standard SQL by instantiating a searchstring with the proper join/select commands based on the tagged textentries, wherein the resulting command is provided over the bridgemechanism to the present invention as a query. Upon generating queryresults from the query, the results are passed over the bridgemechanism, and may be parsed for formatting and generation of a newresults Web page by the bridge mechanism. Such a new results Web page isthen provided to the information server, which may supply it to therequesting Web browser.

Also, an information server may contain, communicate, generate, obtain,and/or provide program component, system, user, and/or datacommunications, requests, and/or responses.

User Interface

Computer interfaces in some respects are similar to automobile operationinterfaces. Automobile operation interface elements such as steeringwheels, gearshifts, and speedometers facilitate the access, operation,and display of automobile resources, and status. Computer interactioninterface elements such as check boxes, cursors, menus, scrollers, andwindows (collectively and commonly referred to as widgets) similarlyfacilitate the access, capabilities, operation, and display of data andcomputer hardware and operating system resources, and status. Operationinterfaces are commonly called user interfaces. Graphical userinterfaces (GUIs) such as the Apple Macintosh Operating System's Aqua,IBM's OS/2, Microsoft's Windows2000/2003/3.1/95/98/CE/Millennium/NT/XP/Vista/7 (i.e., Aero), Unix'sX-Windows (e.g., which may include additional Unix graphic interfacelibraries and layers such as K Desktop Environment (KDE), mythTV and GNUNetwork Object Model Environment (GNOME)), web interface libraries(e.g., ActiveX, AJAX, (D)HTML, FLASH, Java, JavaScript, etc. interfacelibraries such as, but not limited to, Dojo, jQuery(UI), MooTools,Prototype, script.aculo.us, SWFObject, Yahoo! User Interface, any ofwhich may be used and) provide a baseline and means of accessing anddisplaying information graphically to users.

A user interface component is a stored program component that isexecuted by a CPU. The user interface may be a conventional graphic userinterface as provided by, with, and/or atop operating systems and/oroperating environments such as already discussed. The user interface mayallow for the display, execution, interaction, manipulation, and/oroperation of program components and/or system facilities through textualand/or graphical facilities. The user interface provides a facilitythrough which users may affect, interact, and/or operate a computersystem. A user interface may communicate to and/or with other componentsin a component collection, including itself, and/or facilities of thelike. Most frequently, the user interface communicates with operatingsystems, other program components, and/or the like. The user interfacemay contain, communicate, generate, obtain, and/or provide programcomponent, system, user, and/or data communications, requests, and/orresponses.

Web Browser

A Web browser component is a stored program component that is executedby a CPU. The Web browser may be a conventional hypertext viewingapplication such as Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator.Secure Web browsing may be supplied with 128 bit (or greater) encryptionby way of HTTPS, SSL, and/or the like. Web browsers allowing for theexecution of program components through facilities such as ActiveX,AJAX, (D)HTML, FLASH, Java, JavaScript, web browser plug-in APIs (e.g.,FireFox, Safari Plug-in, and/or the like APIs), and/or the like. Webbrowsers and like information access tools may be integrated into PDAs,cellular telephones, and/or other mobile devices. A Web browser maycommunicate to and/or with other components in a component collection,including itself, and/or facilities of the like. Most frequently, theWeb browser communicates with information servers, operating systems,integrated program components (e.g., plug-ins), and/or the like; e.g.,it may contain, communicate, generate, obtain, and/or provide programcomponent, system, user, and/or data communications, requests, and/orresponses. Of course, in place of a Web browser and information server,a combined application may be developed to perform similar functions ofboth. The combined application would similarly affect the obtaining andthe provision of information to users, user agents, and/or the like fromthe enabled nodes of the present invention. The combined application maybe nugatory on systems employing standard Web browsers.

Mail Server

A mail server component is a stored program component that is executedby a CPU. The mail server may be a conventional Internet mail serversuch as, but not limited to sendmail, Microsoft Exchange, and/or thelike. The mail server may allow for the execution of program componentsthrough facilities such as ASP, ActiveX, (ANSI) (Objective−) C (++), C#and/or .NET, CGI scripts, Java, JavaScript, PERL, PHP, pipes, Python,WebObjects, and/or the like. The mail server may support communicationsprotocols such as, but not limited to: Internet message access protocol(IMAP), Messaging Application Programming Interface (MAPI)/MicrosoftExchange, post office protocol (POP3), simple mail transfer protocol(SMTP), and/or the like. The mail server can route, forward, and processincoming and outgoing mail messages that have been sent, relayed and/orotherwise traversing through and/or to the present invention.

Access to the mail of the present invention may be achieved through anumber of APIs offered by the individual Web server components and/orthe operating system.

Also, a mail server may contain, communicate, generate, obtain, and/orprovide program component, system, user, and/or data communications,requests, information, and/or responses.

Mail Client

A mail client component is a stored program component that is executedby a CPU. The mail client may be a conventional mail viewing applicationsuch as Apple Mail, Microsoft Entourage, Microsoft Outlook, MicrosoftOutlook Express, Mozilla, Thunderbird, and/or the like. Mail clients maysupport a number of transfer protocols, such as: IMAP, MicrosoftExchange, POP3, SMTP, and/or the like. A mail client may communicate toand/or with other components in a component collection, includingitself, and/or facilities of the like. Most frequently, the mail clientcommunicates with mail servers, operating systems, other mail clients,and/or the like; e.g., it may contain, communicate, generate, obtain,and/or provide program component, system, user, and/or datacommunications, requests, information, and/or responses. Generally, themail client provides a facility to compose and transmit electronic mailmessages.

Cryptographic Server

A cryptographic server component is a stored program component that isexecuted by a CPU, cryptographic processor, cryptographic processorinterface, cryptographic processor device, and/or the like.Cryptographic processor interfaces will allow for expedition ofencryption and/or decryption requests by the cryptographic component;however, the cryptographic component, alternatively, may run on aconventional CPU. The cryptographic component allows for the encryptionand/or decryption of provided data. The cryptographic component allowsfor both symmetric and asymmetric (e.g., Pretty Good Protection (PGP))encryption and/or decryption. The cryptographic component may employcryptographic techniques such as, but not limited to: digitalcertificates (e.g., X.509 authentication framework), digital signatures,dual signatures, enveloping, password access protection, public keymanagement, and/or the like. The cryptographic component will facilitatenumerous (encryption and/or decryption) security protocols such as, butnot limited to: checksum, Data Encryption Standard (DES), EllipticalCurve Encryption (ECC), International Data Encryption Algorithm (IDEA),Message Digest 5 (MD5, which is a one way hash function), passwords,Rivest Cipher (RC5), Rijndael, RSA (which is an Internet encryption andauthentication system that uses an algorithm developed in 1977 by RonRivest, Adi Shamir, and Leonard Adleman), Secure Hash Algorithm (SHA),Secure Socket Layer (SSL), Secure Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTPS),and/or the like. Employing such encryption security protocols, thepresent invention may encrypt all incoming and/or outgoingcommunications and may serve as node within a virtual private network(VPN) with a wider communications network. The cryptographic componentfacilitates the process of “security authorization” whereby access to aresource is inhibited by a security protocol wherein the cryptographiccomponent effects authorized access to the secured resource. Inaddition, the cryptographic component may provide unique identifiers ofcontent, e.g., employing and MD5 hash to obtain a unique signature foran digital audio file. A cryptographic component may communicate toand/or with other components in a component collection, includingitself, and/or facilities of the like. The cryptographic componentsupports encryption schemes allowing for the secure transmission ofinformation across a communications network to enable the component ofthe present invention to engage in secure transactions if so desired.The cryptographic component facilitates the secure accessing ofresources on the present invention and facilitates the access of securedresources on remote systems; i.e., it may act as a client and/or serverof secured resources. Most frequently, the cryptographic componentcommunicates with information servers, operating systems, other programcomponents, and/or the like. The cryptographic component may contain,communicate, generate, obtain, and/or provide program component, system,user, and/or data communications, requests, and/or responses.

The Database of the Present Invention

The database component of the present invention may be embodied in adatabase and its stored data. The database is a stored programcomponent, which is executed by the CPU; the stored program componentportion configuring the CPU to process the stored data. The database maybe a conventional, fault tolerant, relational, scalable, secure databasesuch as Oracle or Sybase. Relational databases are an extension of aflat file. Relational databases consist of a series of related tables.The tables are interconnected via a key field. Use of the key fieldallows the combination of the tables by indexing against the key field;i.e., the key fields act as dimensional pivot points for combininginformation from various tables. Relationships generally identify linksmaintained between tables by matching primary keys. Primary keysrepresent fields that uniquely identify the rows of a table in arelational database. More precisely, they uniquely identify rows of atable on the “one” side of a one-to-many relationship.

Alternatively, the database of the present invention may be implementedusing various standard data-structures, such as an array, hash, (linked)list, struct, structured text file (e.g., XML), table, and/or the like.Such data-structures may be stored in memory and/or in (structured)files. In another alternative, an object-oriented database may be used,such as Frontier, ObjectStore, Poet, Zope, and/or the like. Objectdatabases can include a number of object collections that are groupedand/or linked together by common attributes; they may be related toother object collections by some common attributes. Object-orienteddatabases perform similarly to relational databases with the exceptionthat objects are not just pieces of data but may have other types offunctionality encapsulated within a given object. If the database of thepresent invention is implemented as a data-structure, the use of thedatabase of the present invention may be integrated into anothercomponent such as the component of the present invention. Also, thedatabase may be implemented as a mix of data structures, objects, andrelational structures. Databases may be consolidated and/or distributedin countless variations through standard data processing techniques.Portions of databases, e.g., tables, may be exported and/or imported andthus decentralized and/or integrated.

In one embodiment, the database component includes several tables. AUsers (e.g., operators and physicians) table may include fields such as,but not limited to: user_id, ssn, dob, first_name, last_name, age,state, address_firstline, address_secondline, zipcode, devices_list,contact_info, contact_type, alt_contact_info, alt_contact_type, and/orthe like to refer to any type of enterable data or selections discussedherein. The Users table may support and/or track multiple entityaccounts. A Clients table may include fields such as, but not limitedto: user_id, client_id, client_ip, client_type, client_model,operating_system, os_version, app_installed_flag, and/or the like. AnApps table may include fields such as, but not limited to: app_ID,app_name, app_type, OS_compatibilities_list, version, timestamp,developer_ID, and/or the like.

In one embodiment, user programs may contain various user interfaceprimitives, which may serve to update the platform of the presentinvention. Also, various accounts may require custom database tablesdepending upon the environments and the types of clients the system ofthe present invention may need to serve. It should be noted that anyunique fields may be designated as a key field throughout. In analternative embodiment, these tables have been decentralized into theirown databases and their respective database controllers (i.e.,individual database controllers for each of the above tables). Employingstandard data processing techniques, one may further distribute thedatabases over several computer systemizations and/or storage devices.Similarly, configurations of the decentralized database controllers maybe varied by consolidating and/or distributing the various databasecomponents. The system of the present invention may be configured tokeep track of various settings, inputs, and parameters via databasecontrollers.

Various other components may be included and called upon for providingfor aspects of the teachings herein. For example, additional materials,combinations of materials and/or omission of materials may be used toprovide for added embodiments that are within the scope of the teachingsherein. In the present application a variety of variables are described,including but not limited to components and conditions. It is to beunderstood that any combination of any of these variables can define anembodiment of the disclosure. Other combinations of articles,components, conditions, and/or methods can also be specifically selectedfrom among variables listed herein to define other embodiments, as wouldbe apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art.

When introducing elements of the present disclosure or the embodiment(s)thereof, the articles “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to mean thatthere are one or more of the elements. Similarly, the adjective“another,” when used to introduce an element, is intended to mean one ormore elements. The terms “including” and “having” are intended to beinclusive such that there may be additional elements other than thelisted elements.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a system 100 for determining the identity of auser in an automobile is illustratively depicted in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

The system 100 includes an automobile 110, being driven by a user (notshown) along a road 115, a camera 120, which may include one or moresensors, a server 130, and a business 140.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a user drives anautomobile 110 along a road 115. As the automobile 110 drives along theroad 115, the automobile 110 comes into the view of the camera 120. Thecamera 120 takes images of the automobile 110 and generates animpression based on at least one characteristic of the automobile 110.These images are then sent to a server 130. According to an embodiment,the server 130 includes an advertising database and/or a user database,which it may or may not receive from a business 140. The advertisingdatabase includes information related to at least one advertisement andthe user database includes information related to at least one user.

The camera 120 may also include a Global Positioning Device (GPS) fordetermining the location of a user. Other components of the system 100may also include GPS's as need be to determine a location of a user.

The server 130 cross references the at least one characteristic in theimpression against any existing entries for individual users in the userdatabase to determine if any existing users match the impression. Theserver 130 either associates the impression with a user or creates a newentry for the impression. If the server 130 associates the impressionwith a user, the server 130 performs instructions for correlating the atleast one characteristic with at least one advertisement, thuscorrelating the characteristic with the at least one advertisement.

According to an embodiment, based on information about the automobile110 and the user, the server 130 calculates a probable destination forthe automobile 110. The probable destination may be determined frompreviously recorded information in the user database.

The server 130 may send the results of this correlation to a business140.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the server 130stores information gathered on one or more users or automobiles 110 anduses this stored data to process, determine, and recognize patterns inthe user's or automobile's behavior, such as, e.g., determining a homeaddress, a work address, any frequented stores or restaurants, howfrequently and at what times does the user or automobile reach certainlocations, any changes in destinations between users of the automobiles110, etc. It is noted that this pattern recognition may be used with anyof the embodiments described herein, while maintaining the spirit of thepresent invention.

According to an embodiment, the server 130 stores information such as,e.g. license plate numbers, make of automobiles 110, model ofautomobiles 110, year of automobiles 110, physical characteristic of anyusers in the automobiles 110, etc. According to an embodiment, thiscataloged information is used for future marketing and sales. Accordingto an embodiment, the server 130 communicates cataloged data with a3^(rd) party service, such as, e.g., Carfax, Polk, or similar companiesor services in order to create detailed customer profiles.

According to an embodiment, when an automobile 110 drives past alocation, the server 130 determines the identity of a user in theautomobile 110 and displays an advertisement marketed specifically forthe user. According to an embodiment, the profiles of the users arerepeatedly updated, enabling the system 100 to alter whichadvertisements are marketed to the user by basing the advertisements onthe updates profile.

According to an embodiment, individuals, groups, companies, etc. areable to budget a fixed monetary amount to be spent on advertisements ona daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly basis.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a system 200 for identifying a user anddisplaying an advertisement to a user at a gas pump 210 isillustratively depicted in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention.

The system 200 includes a gas pump 210, a camera 220, which may includeone or more sensors, a display screen 230, a printer 240, and a server250.

As an automobile (not shown) pulls next to the gas pump 210, the camera220 takes images of the automobile and is generates an impression basedon at least one characteristic of the automobile. The impression is thensent to the server 250, which includes an advertising database and/or auser database. The server 250 cross references the at least onecharacteristic in the impression against any existing entries forindividual users in the user database to determine if any existing usersmatch the impression. The server 250 then performs instructions forcorrelating the at least one characteristic with at least oneadvertisement, thus correlating the characteristic with the at least oneadvertisement.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the server 250sends the at least one correlated advertisement to the gas pump 210,where it is displayed onto the display screen 230. The displayedadvertisement may be an image or a video. However, other types ofdigital advertisements may also be used. The advertisement may also beprinted, using a printer 240 so that the user may take a physical copyof the advertisement.

According to an embodiment, system 200 determines the identity of a userand displays, on the display screen 230, an advertisement marketedspecifically to the identified user.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a system 300 for printing advertisements 330 isillustratively shown in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention.

The system 300 includes a server 310 and a printing device 320 to printphysical advertisements 330.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, after a server 310correlates an advertisement with a user, the server 310 sends a digitalversion of the advertisement to a printing device 320, wherein theprinting device 320 prints a physical copy 330 of the digitaladvertisement which can be taken by the user. The advertisements can be,e.g., printed coupons, tags, tear-off coupons or advertisements,adhesive coupons or advertisements, etc. It is noted that these andother forms of printed advertisements may be used with any of theembodiments described herein, while maintaining the spirit of thepresent invention. Printed coupons and advertisements may also bespecific to the make or model of the automobile 110 that a user isdriving, if the user is driving an automobile.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a system 400 for placing advertisements ontoobjects 430 is illustratively shown in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention.

The system 400 includes a server 410 and a printing device 420 forprinting advertisements onto stickers 440 and placing the stickers 440onto objects 430.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, after a server 410correlates an advertisement with a user, the server 410 sends a digitalversion of the advertisement to a printing device 420. The printingdevice 420 subsequently prints the advertisement onto a sticker 440 andplaces the sticker onto an object 430 designed to be taken by the user.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a system 500 for displaying an advertisement toa user 520 on a manual control station 530 is illustratively depicted inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

The system 500 includes a display screen 510, a user 520, and a manualcontrol mechanism 530 such as, e.g., a cell phone, a tablet computer,etc.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, once a user 530 hasbeen identified, one or more advertisements are sent to the user'smanual control mechanism 530. In an embodiment, the manual controlmechanism 530 includes a memory configured to receive multiplecorrelated advertisements, a touch-enabled display configured to showthe multiple correlated advertisements, and an interface configured toenable the user 520 to choose which of the multiple correlatedadvertisements to display.

In another embodiment, the one or more advertisements may be displayedonto a display screen 510.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a system 600 for displaying an advertisement toa user in an automobile 610 at a business drive thru 620 is illustratedin accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

The system 600 includes an automobile 610 housing a user, and a businessdrive thru 620 which includes a display screen 630 and a drive thruwindow 640.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a user has beencorrelated with one or more advertisements. As the automobile 610housing the user drives up to a drive thru window 640, the automobilepasses by a display screen 630. As the automobile 610 passes by thedisplay screen 630, the display screen 630 displays the one or moreadvertisements correlated with the user so that the one or moreadvertisements are visible by the user.

Referring now to FIG. 7, a system 700 for determining the identity of auser in an automobile 720 at a car wash 740 is illustratively depictedin accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

The system 700 includes a camera 710, which may include one or moresensors, an automobile 720, and a car wash 740.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, an automobile 720enters a car wash 740. As the automobile 720 enters the car wash 740,the camera 710 takes pictures of the automobile 720 and generates animpression based on at least one characteristic of the automobile 720.The characteristics 730 may include views of the automobile's licenseplate, shape, front grill, headlight configuration, wheelbase, sunroof,make, model, trim, color, etc.

Referring now to FIG. 8, a system 800 for displaying an advertisement toa user in an automobile 810 at a toll booth 820 is illustrativelydepicted in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

The system 800 includes an automobile 810 and one or more toll booths820 which include one or more display screens 830.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a user has beencorrelated with one or more advertisements. As the automobile 810housing the user drives up to a toll booth 820, the automobile passes bya display screen 830. As the automobile 810 passes by the display screen830, the display screen 830 displays the one or more advertisementscorrelated with the user so that the one or more advertisements arevisible by the user.

Referring now to FIG. 9, a system 900 for projecting an advertisement toa user in a self-driving vehicle 910 is illustratively depicted inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

The system 900 includes a self-driving vehicle 910 housing a user, andan overpass 930 having a projector 920 housed at the underside of theoverpass 930.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a user has beencorrelated with one or more advertisements and is being driven in aself-driving vehicle 910. As the self-driving vehicle 910 passesunderneath the overpass 930, the projector 920 projects an image of theone or more advertisements onto the windshield 940 of the self-drivingvehicle 910 so that the one or more advertisements are visible to theuser inside the self-driving vehicle 910.

Referring now to FIG. 10, a system 1000 for displaying a holographicadvertisement 1040 to a user in an automobile 1010 is illustrativelydepicted in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

The system includes an automobile 1010 housing a user, and a holographicprojector 1030 designed to project a holographic advertisement 1040 tothe user in the automobile 1010.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a user has beencorrelated with one or more advertisements. As an automobile 1010housing a user drives along a road 1020, it passes a holographicprojector 1030. As the automobile 1010 passes the holographic projector1030, the holographic projector 1030 projects a holographic image 1040of the one or more advertisements. In an embodiment, the holographicimage 1040 is projected onto a transparent medium.

In embodiments of the present invention, system 1000 may be used atairports and seaports. However, other locations may also be used inaccordance with the present principles.

Referring now to FIG. 11, a system 1100 for displaying an advertisementon a fold-down visor mirror 1130 within a vehicle compartment 1110 isillustratively depicted in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention.

The system 1100 includes a vehicle compartment 1110 located within avehicle and which includes a navigation/information display 1120 and afold-down visor mirror 1130.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, an image of anadvertisement is displayed on the fold-down visor mirror 1130 so thatthe advertisement is visible to a user housed within the vehicle.

Referring now to FIG. 12, a system 1200 for displaying an advertisementon a navigation/information display 1220 within a vehicle compartment isillustratively depicted in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention.

The system 1200 includes a vehicle compartment 1210 located within avehicle and which includes a navigation/information display 1220 and arear-view mirror 1230.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, an image of anadvertisement is displayed on the navigation/information display 1220 sothat the advertisement is visible to a user housed within the vehicle.

According to various embodiments of the present invention, it is notedthat all or part of the systems and methods described herein may be usedin various businesses and locations such as, e.g., jewelry stores,supermarkets, delicatessens, sports stadiums and arenas, cardealerships, restaurants, etc.

While the disclosure refers to exemplary embodiments, it will beunderstood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be madeand equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof withoutdeparting from the scope of the disclosure. In addition, manymodifications will be appreciated by those skilled in the art to adapt aparticular instrument, situation or material to the teachings of thedisclosure without departing from the spirit thereof. Therefore, it isintended that the disclosure not be limited to the particularembodiments disclosed.

What is claimed is:
 1. An advertising system, comprising: at least onesensor, coupled to a fixed location, wherein the at least one sensor isconfigured to generate an impression based on at least onecharacteristic of a proximate automobile; at least one processorconfigured to receive the impression; at least one server, having anadvertising database and a user database, wherein the advertisingdatabase contains information relating to at least one advertisement,wherein the user database is configured to: check if the at least onecharacteristic matches an existing entry for a user, and eitherassociate that impression with a user or create a new entry for theimpression, and wherein the at least one server performs instructionsfor correlating the at least one characteristic with at least oneadvertisement; and at least one delivery mechanism, configured toreceive and display the correlated advertisement.
 2. The advertisingsystem of claim 1, further comprising a global positioning device todetermine the location of a user.
 3. The advertising system of claim 1,wherein the at least one delivery mechanism is an external display whichis in communication with the at least one server.
 4. The advertisingsystem of claim 1, wherein the delivery mechanism is a printerconfigured to print the correlated advertisement on at least one label.5. The advertising system of claim 1, wherein the delivery mechanismfurther comprises a mechanism for placing the at least one label on atleast one article.
 6. The advertising system of claim 5, wherein the atleast one article is a coffee cup.
 7. The advertising system of claim 1,wherein the delivery mechanism is a printer configured to print thecorrelated advertisement directly on at least one article.
 8. Theadvertising system of claim 6, wherein the at least one article is acoffee cup.
 9. The advertising system of claim 1, wherein the at leastone characteristic is selected from the group consisting of: a licenseplate, a shape of a car, a front grill, a headlight configuration, awheelbase, a sunroof, a make, a model, a trim, and a color.
 10. Theadvertising system of claim 1, wherein the server is further configuredto correlate a plurality of characteristics over a period of time todetermine a behavior pattern of the user.
 11. The advertising system ofclaim 1, further comprising: a manual control mechanism, comprising: amemory, configured to receive multiple correlated advertisements; atouch-enabled display, to show multiple correlated advertisements; andan interface, allowing the user to choose which of the multiplecorrelated advertisements to display.
 12. A method of deliveringadvertisements, comprising the steps of: providing, an advertisingsystem, comprising: at least one sensor, coupled to a fixed location,wherein the at least one sensor is configured to generate an impressionbased on at least one characteristic of a proximate automobile; at leastone processor configured to receive the impression, at least one server,having an advertising database and a user database, wherein theadvertising database contains information relating to at least oneadvertisement, wherein the user database is configured to: check if theat least one characteristic matches an existing entry for a user, andeither associate that impression with a user or create a new entry forthe impression, and wherein the at least one server performsinstructions for correlating the at least one characteristic with atleast one advertisement; and at least one delivery mechanism, configuredto receive and display the correlated advertisement; sensing, by thesensing mechanism, at least one characteristic about the proximateautomobile; recording, by the at least one server, the at least onecharacteristic in the user database; calculating, by the at least oneserver, a probable destination for the proximate automobile;interfacing, by the at least one server, with a selected one of the atleast one delivery mechanisms, wherein the selected delivery mechanismis located approximately at the probable destination; and displaying, bythe selected delivery mechanism, the correlated advertisement.
 13. Themethod of claim 12, wherein the probable destination is determined frompreviously recorded information in the user database.
 14. The method ofclaim 12, the advertising system further comprising: a manual controlmechanism, comprising: a memory, configured to receive multiplecorrelated advertisements; a touch-enabled display, to show the multiplecorrelated advertisements; and an interface, allowing a user to choosewhich of the multiple correlated advertisements to display.
 15. Themethod of claim 14, further comprising the step of: choosing, by avendor, which correlated advertisements to display, via the manualcontrol mechanism.
 16. The method of claim 12, wherein the correlatedadvertisement is a video advertisement.
 17. The method of claim 16,wherein the correlated advertisement is an image printed on an article.18. The method of claim 12, wherein the display mechanism is a printer.19. The method of claim 12, further comprising correlating, by the atleast one server, a plurality of characteristics over a period of timeto determine a behavior pattern of the user.